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Environmental And Pharmacological Modulation Of Opioid-Mediated Behavioral Effects In Rats, Corinne Ann Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and opioid-associated overdoses continue to pose significant burden to US healthcare systems—both financially and in lives lost. It is imperative to identify risk factors which may predispose vulnerability to OUD development, which could aid in discovery of new therapeutic strategies for susceptible populations. This dissertation investigated the impacts of two such risk factors which modulate opioid-induced reward and behavioral effects: adolescent stress and the adulteration of illicit opioids by xylazine. In Chapter 2, we examined the effects of acute adolescent stress on oxycodone self-administration in rats, and the potential involvement of the locus coeruleus in these …

A New Visual Index For Assessing Zooplankton Biomass And Its Utility In Assessing Prey Availability For Megaplanktivores’, Hannah Moloney, Asia O. Armstrong, Guy M.W. Stevens, Christine L. Dudgeon, Joanna Harris, Kathy A. Townsend, Anthony J. Richardson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Zooplankton are vital links in marine food webs, yet their biomass remains challenging to quantify across broad spatial and temporal scales.This study introduces the Zooplankton Visual Index–a simple, rapid and scalable semi-quantitative method for evaluating zooplankton biomassthrough underwater observations. Following the establishment of a standardized protocol, validation against in situ net samples demonstratedthat indexlevels increased consistently with measured biomass and predictable shifts in community composition. We then applied the validatedindexto a 9-year dataset of reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) sightings in the Maldives. Increased M. alfredi abundance significantly correlated withhigher index levels, confirming that the index effectively captures the food …

Research And Innovation Update, May 27, 2026, Office Of The Vice President For Research And Innovation

Office of Research, Economic Engagement and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Belknap County 4-H Fair Handbook 2026, Alison Coleman

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Direct Democracy In The Twenty-First Century: Massachusetts Open Town Meeting And Citizen Participation, Daniel W. Santos

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Town Meeting is a unique system of democratic governance that can be found only in New England towns, where it has been the primary form of local government for nearly four centuries. Town Meeting is a type of direct democracy where laws, policy, and decisions are made by a plurality of a town’s eligible voters acting as its legislative body. There is limited scholarship addressing Town Meeting, with much of the extant literature focusing on the benefits of the direct democracy aspect of this form of government. Town Meeting has been generally known to be poorly attended by citizens. The …

Mitochondria-Er Contact Sites (Mercs) In The Cell Cycle: Molecular Architecture And Functional Remodeling Across Cellular States, Eduardo Silva-Pavez, Bruno Torres-Gonzalez, Michelle Sotomayor, Benjamín Cartes-Saavedra, Dorian V. Ziegler, Yessia Hidalgo-Fadic, Ulises Ahumada-Castro

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Mitochondria–endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact sites (MERCS) are nanoscopic, dynamic platforms integrating metabolism, signaling, and stress responses to regulate cell fate. These nanoscopic interfaces remodel continuously to meet the demands of proliferating, quiescent, and senescent cells. We synthesize evidence that MERCS actively coordinate local Ca2+ signaling, non-vesicular lipid transfer, and proteostasis to shape mitochondrial function and cellular homeostasis. We discuss how MERCS architecture changes across the cell cycle and during arrest, distinguishing adaptive from maladaptive remodeling, and consider therapeutic potential in aging and age-related disease.

Evaluating Soil Health And Crop Yield In Louisiana Agricultural Systems: Impacts Of Best Management Practices And Prediction Models, Hector J. Mendoza Lagos

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The adoption of conservation management practices is critical for improving soil health, enhancing nutrient use efficiency, and sustaining crop productivity in row crop systems in Louisiana. This study evaluated the role of conservation agronomic practices, soil biochemical indicators, and machine learning predictive models to improve soil nutrient dynamics, soil health indicators, microbial communities (MC), and crop productivity on a corn (Zea mays L.) research plot scale and in a commercial forty-hectare cotton (Gassypium hirsutum L.)-corn-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation system in northeast Louisiana. The objectives of the study were to evaluate soil nutrient dynamics and MCs under …

A Sisyphean Carrot In Waiting For Godot, Thierry Dubost

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

In Waiting for Godot, Beckett employs a variety of strategies to expose what it means to be human. Among them, one notes a recurring emphasis on eating scenes that reflect a lurking existential crisis illustrated by the characters’ failure to follow expected standards of commensality. In this respect, if one refers to Brillat-Savarin’s maxim “Tell me what kind of food you eat and I will tell you what kind of man you are,” one could start from physiological features that are given pride of place in the play to ponder over the importance of unexpected forms of nourishment as revealing …

A European Narrative Of Redemption And Hope In The Wine Sector: Fra I Monti – A Case Study, Francesco D'Ausilio

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

The paper focuses on the story of the Fra i Monti winery in Terelle, a small village located in Italy's Comino Valley, in the province of Frosinone, about 110 km southeast of Rome. This is a paradigmatic territory of agricultural Italy, where between the early 1950s and the mid-1970s, industrialisation and urbanisation shaped the figure of the “metal- mezzadro,” half factory worker and half farmer in the fields, leading to the progressive abandonment of the countryside because it did not offer a secure salary and to the relentless disappearance of farming and wine-making traditions. The paper addresses the theme of …

Hat Hand Boot: An Essay In The Form Of A Shared Meal, Emerald Wise, D'Arcy Newberry-Dupré, Niyanta Sharma, Wesley Hauler

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

This paper is three-fold. The first section enacts a process of “fielding,” generating what might appear as a genealogy of practitioners, but is rather an interdisciplinary collection of precedents, that when drawn into relation, constitute a field—defined by yet redefining each precedent. The field that is drawn into relation here uncovers a compulsion toward planetary healing in the post-war period—a compulsion that appears to have been reactivated today. Each of the practitioners that are touched on have, in some way, whether intentionally or not, played a role in healing our connection to the moment, to ourselves, and to our environments …

Revisiting The Siyez Case: Can We Take A Lesson From Its Exploitation, Learn From The Sorgül Wheat Project, And Hope For A Better Future For Ancient Wheat Landraces?, Aylin Öney Tan, Ebru Baybara Demir

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

Revisiting the siyez case: Can we take a lesson from its exploitation, learn from the Sorgül Wheat Project, and hope for the better in future? Türkiye is home to the earliest varieties of wheat, some of which are still cultivated or grow wild in remote landscapes of Anatolia. Siyez (Triticum monococcum) has been a staple crop for thousands of years. However, over time, other wheat varieties took over, dominating the market with their higher yield. Siyez was no longer considered commercially valuable and was only grown by peasants for their own consumption or as livestock feed. However, a few decades …

“The Last Fish”: Environmental Collapse And Food Crisis In Pink Slime (2024) By Fernanda Trías, Pepa Lago

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

At the end of Pink Slime (2024) by Uruguayan writer Fernanda Trías, the unnamed narrator/protagonist eats tuna from a can and drops the empty container in the river, where it “floated for a moment until the water found its way in and dragged it to the bottom.” This scene mirrors the opening of the novel, when a fisherman releases back into the water a fish “so slight that it made no noise as it broke the surface. The last fish.” The presence of the fish, first as a live being and then as a preserved, shelf-stable foodstuff, frame the dystopian …

Warming Up: How Climate Change Is Changing Sport, Jesse E. Mclaughlin

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Incorporating Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (“Itek”) In Post-Wildfire Response And Recovery, Phoebe Suina

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Trial By Fire: Disaster Justice And Lessons Learned, Clifford J. Villa

Natural Resources Journal

Disaster Justice reflects the intersection of environmental justice and disaster law. The study of disaster justice is becoming increasingly essential as disasters become more frequent and devastating in the face of accelerating climate change. Disaster law is marked by statutes such as the federal Stafford Act and by theory such as the “disaster cycle” of readiness, response, and recovery. Environmental justice recognizes that the distribution of harms such as bad air or water quality may be distributed inequitably among groups such as low-income populations or racial minorities. In similar fashion, the adverse impacts of disasters may also be distributed inequitably …

Injury-In-Fact Of Nothing: Why Federal Courts Cannot Certify Classes With Uninjured Members After Labcorp, Jacob Davenport

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

Enemies To Lovers: An Unsuspecting Friendship In The Journey To Save The Endangerment Finding, Sophie Ballah

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

Violent White Exclusionary Destruction Of Black Property Is A Public Nuisance: The Tulsa Race Massacre And Beyond, Eric Miller

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

“Can You Describe It?”: A Teacher-Researcher’S Reflections On Crisis And Hope, Christy Shields-Argelès

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

Drawing on experiences as a Franco-American food anthropologist and enseignant-chercheur, this paper reflects on crisis and hope through two encounters: Jenny, a novice anthropology student navigating culture shock in a Parisian café, and René, a newly retired Comté farmer learning descriptive tasting on a sensory panel, the jury terroir. Reframing crisis as a threshold – a liminal space of encounter between different systems of meaning – the paper proposes thick description as a methodology for dwelling productively within such moments. Hope, in turn, is understood not as naïve optimism, but as the opening of new perceptual and relational perspectives …

Wars, Hurricanes, And Volcanoes: Community Cookbooks And The Politics Of Disaster Relief, Maria Paz Moreno

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

The community charitable cookbook originated in the United States after the Civil War. Since then, this model of fundraising has become popular both in the United States and around the world, often adapted to suit different purposes. Although community charitable cookbooks are traditionally put together to benefit various social causes, they sometimes go beyond the purely charitable to serve other goals, like preserving cultural traditions, promoting social change, or sustaining collective identity within diasporic communities. My paper focuses on community cookbooks created with the goal of fundraising for disaster relief. I will examine not only their charitable motivations, but also …

Food In Dinneen’S Foclóir Gaedhilge Agus Béarla, John D. Mulcahy

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

Inspired by the work of the late Manchán Magan, this paper examines Irish food and hospitality through the lens of historical lexicography using the 1927 edition of Fr Patrick Dinneen’s Foclóir Gaedhilge agus Béarla as a linguistic “time capsule”. By examining Irish words connected with everyday eating, the paper traces how these words embody resilience, reciprocity, and hope in the face of recurring crises such as famine, emigration, and political upheaval. The paper also draws attention to roles associated with food provision and banqueting, underlining the long-standing importance of hospitality in Irish society. This approach uncovers how hospitality was understood …

Host Range And Characterization Of Phytophthora Species That Cause Plant Diseases In California, Dinh Hieu Pham

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Biological Sciences Master's Theses

Phytophthora is one of the most destructive genera of plant pathogens in California, posing significant threats to both nursery production and natural ecosystems. Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death (SOD), has expanded its host range to include more than 100 plant species. In addition, Phytophthora elongata, previously isolated in Western Australia from Eucalyptus marginata in 2013, has recently been detected for the first time in the United States on Rhododendron species. This naturally raises concern that a new etiological species has entered the country. Therefore, the goal of this thesis study was three-fold:  i) to …

Taming Strict Scrutiny, Gabrielle M. Girgis

Florida Law Review

Some members of the Roberts Court have signaled their willingness to reverse Employment Division v. Smith, a nearly thirty-five year old controversial but landmark free exercise ruling. Scholars and judges have debated what exactly should replace Smith’s test for religious exemptions, which applies strict scrutiny only to laws that target religion for unfair discrimination. More than one Justice on the Court has shown openness to a new strict scrutiny regime. Such a regime might apply strict scrutiny more widely to any substantial burdens on free exercise (as the Court did prior to Smith in cases such as Sherbert …

Dgs Programme 2026, Dgs Committee

Dublin Gastronomy Symposium

This is the full and final Programme for the DGS 2026 - Food and Crisis/Hope, as well as the Map of Producers who furnished the delicious food and drink we serve at lunch over the two days of the event.

Early Life Exposure To Antibiotics Increases The Risk Of Myopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Peng-Tai Tien, Chang-Ching Wei, Sheng-Chun Lin, Ping Ping Meng, Yu-Te Huang, Jamie Jiin-Yi Chen, Ming-Yen Wu, Ying-Hsiu Shih, Tzu-Ju Hsu, Fuu-Jen Tsai, Yao-Chien Wang, Hui-Ju Lin, Lei Wan

BioMedicine

Background

Myopia is a growing health issue, expected to affect nearly half of the global population by 2050. Genetic predisposition and early environmental influences both play crucial roles in the development of myopia. Identifying modifiable risks and early interventions is critical. Antibiotics, commonly given to young children, may disrupt gut microbiota, which has been linked to ocular diseases in humans and animals.

Aim We aimed to investigate the association between antibiotic use in early life and the risk of developing myopia.

Methods Retrospective cohort study using data from a national health insurance database examined children aged three years or younger, …

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicines Suppress Endometriosis Development Through Modulating Macrophage-Mediated Immune Responses In The Peritoneal Cavity, Cherry Yin-Yi Chang, Kung-Pin Chang, Pei-Fen Lee, Hsiang-Hao Chuang, Yun-Yi Su, Yu-Chi Chang, Man-Ju Yan, Chih-Mei Chen, Tritium Hwang, Huan-Yuan Chen, Chia-Jung Lig, Zhi-Hong Wen, Kuan-Hao Tsuig, Lun-Chien Lo, Jim Jinn-Chyuan Sheu

BioMedicine

Background: Due to unique dietary culture, Asian patients with endometriosis usually seek assistance through traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM), making combined treatments of Western and Chinese medicine quite common in Asia. However, limited molecular evidence has been provided to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of TCHM in treating endometriosis.

Aims: To investigate the functional impacts of TCHM treatment in their traditional formulae on peritoneal immunity, lesion growth, and adhesion formation, we performed studies by using a disease mouse model that exhibits the features of blood stasis and stagnation.

Methods: Four well-known TCHM formulae, frequently used for treating symptoms similar …

Hepatoprotective Evaluation Of Benzoylated Emodin Derivatives: Integrating Bioinformatics And In Vitro Studies, Firdayani Firdayani, Putri Hawa Syaifie, Siska Andrina Kusumastuti, Muthia Rahayu Iresha, Wirawan Adikusuma, Dhecella Winy Cintya Ningrum, Etik Mardliyati, Ayu Masyita, Ariza Yandwiputra Besari, Fathir Azzaki Iradata, Lucy Arianie

BioMedicine

Background: Emodin exhibits various pharmacological activities, including hepatoprotective effects. However, its clinical application is limited by poor absorption and low oral bioavailability. This study aimed to optimize emodin through benzoylation and to assess the hepatoprotective potential of the resulting derivatives integrating bioinformatics and in vitro methods.

Methods: We conducted network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to predict potential targets and interactions of benzoylated emodin derivatives. The derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. The hepatoprotective effects were assessed in vitro using a paracetamol-induced HepG2 cell injury model.

Results: Network pharmacology analysis and gene …

Algorithm Development For Vehicle Detection And Counting With Application Of Opencv, Olajide M. Babatunde, Alase A. Daniel, Obi E. Nnamdi, Kuponiyi S. David, Aina O. Adeola

Al-Bahir

Accurate vehicle detection and counting play a crucial role in traffic monitoring, intelligent transportation systems, and urban planning. This study presents an algorithm for vehicle detection and counting using OpenCV, leveraging image processing and computer vision techniques. The proposed method incorporates background subtraction, contour detection, and object tracking to accurately identify and count vehicles in real-time video streams. The algorithm is tested on various traffic scenarios to evaluate its efficiency and accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. The developed system provides a cost-effective and scalable solution for automated traffic analysis, offering potential applications in traffic management, congestion …

The Correlation Between Perceptual Abilities And The Acquisition Of Non-Native Consonant Clusters, Hope Emma Nielson

Theses and Dissertations

A common approach in the study of speech motor learning is to have speakers learn to produce clusters of consonants that do not occur in their native language. This study investigated the relationship between auditory or speech perceptual abilities and the initial acquisition of non-native stop-stop consonant clusters. Sixty young adult participants (56 female, four male) were administered a gap detection test and a speech-in-noise test to assess their innate perceptual skills. The participants then performed a nonsense-word repetition task featuring non-native consonant clusters in the initial position. The participants' spoken productions of the nonwords were recorded and analyzed acoustically …

Review Of Monika Woźniak And Maria Wyke (Eds.). 2025. Audio-Visual Roman Women: Gender, History And Screen Media. London: Bloomsbury Academic. Pp. 353. Hardcover (Isbn 978-1-3504-6183-3). E-Book (Isbn 978-1-3504-6186-4). $120., Briana King

New England Classical Journal

No abstract provided.